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Continued drug operation results in more arrests

Published: Wednesday, June 25, 2014 at 2:12 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, June 25, 2014 at 2:12 p.m.

Davidson County Sheriff David Grice on Wednesday announced 13 arrests in the continuation of January's undercover operation into drugs in the county.

Warrants for 16 additional residents of Davidson County for 57 drug charges had been issued, the sheriff said in a news release. In January, deputies filed 234 drug charges against 69 residents from Davidson, Randolph and Rowan counties in "Operation Joint Venture." The operation into heroin, crack cocaine and prescription pills being sold in Davidson County cranked back up in February, Grice said.

Grice said the Davidson County Sheriff's Office began the arrest process early Wednesday. According to the late Wednesday morning news release, officers had arrested 13 of the 16 defendants, three of whom were already incarcerated in the Davidson County Detention Center.

"By no means do these arrests represent the end of our ongoing campaign against the national, state and local problems associated with the abuse of these drugs," the sheriff said.

Deputies want the arrests to send a message that the sheriff's office is arresting people for selling drugs, the sheriff said. Grice explained the operation is an effort to stop the sale of drugs in Davidson County.

The sheriff announced these people have been charged in the continuation of the operation:

• Crystal Dawn Carter, 34, of 230 Riverview Road, was charged with two counts of possession with intent to sell and deliver a schedule II controlled substance and two counts of selling a schedule II controlled substance.

• David Author Baker Jr., 24, of 212 Sugar Maple Lane, was charged with possession with the intent to sell and deliver a schedule II controlled substance and selling a schedule II controlled substance.

• James Allen Kirby, 36, of 1955 Jersey Church Road, Lot B, was charged with trafficking opiates by sale, trafficking opiates by possession, two counts of possession with intent to sell and deliver a schedule III controlled substance and two counts of selling a schedule III controlled substance.

• Jennifer Ann Hayes, 42, of 410 Carolina Ave., was charged with two counts of possession with intent to sell and deliver a schedule IV controlled substance and two counts of selling a schedule IV controlled substance.

• Karen Lemly Saunders, 46, of 256 Holloway Church Road, was charged with trafficking opiates by sale, trafficking opiates by possession, selling a schedule III controlled substance, possession with intent to sell and deliver a schedule III controlled substance and selling controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school.

• Melinda Jean Wilson, 35, of 106 Pond St., was charged with trafficking opiates by sale, trafficking opiates by possession, two counts of possession with intent to sell and deliver a schedule III controlled substance and two counts of selling a schedule III controlled substance.

• Michael Shawn Billings, 39, of 5527 S. N.C. Highway 150, was charged with two counts of possession with intent to sell and deliver a schedule II controlled substance and two counts of selling a schedule II controlled substance.

• Payton Lee Bowles, 26, of 200 Dacotah St., was charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver a counterfeit substance.

• Quentin Bernard Mcintosh, 39, of 301 Pennington Ave., Apt. B, was charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver a schedule II controlled substance and possession with intent to sell and deliver a schedule II controlled substance.

• Scotty Wayne Blevins, 40, of 333 Numa Byerly Road, was charged with two counts of possession with intent to sell and deliver a schedule II controlled substance and two counts of selling a schedule II controlled substance.

<p>Davidson County Sheriff David Grice on Wednesday announced 13 arrests in the continuation of January's undercover operation into drugs in the county.</p><p>Warrants for 16 additional residents of Davidson County for 57 drug charges had been issued, the sheriff said in a news release. In January, deputies filed 234 drug charges against 69 residents from Davidson, Randolph and Rowan counties in "Operation Joint Venture." The operation into heroin, crack cocaine and prescription pills being sold in Davidson County cranked back up in February, Grice said.</p><p>Grice said the Davidson County Sheriff's Office began the arrest process early Wednesday. According to the late Wednesday morning news release, officers had arrested 13 of the 16 defendants, three of whom were already incarcerated in the Davidson County Detention Center.</p><p>"By no means do these arrests represent the end of our ongoing campaign against the national, state and local problems associated with the abuse of these drugs," the sheriff said.</p><p>Deputies want the arrests to send a message that the sheriff's office is arresting people for selling drugs, the sheriff said. Grice explained the operation is an effort to stop the sale of drugs in Davidson County.</p><p>The sheriff announced these people have been charged in the continuation of the operation:</p><p>• Crystal Dawn Carter, 34, of 230 Riverview Road, was charged with two counts of possession with intent to sell and deliver a schedule II controlled substance and two counts of selling a schedule II controlled substance.</p><p>• David Author Baker Jr., 24, of 212 Sugar Maple Lane, was charged with possession with the intent to sell and deliver a schedule II controlled substance and selling a schedule II controlled substance.</p><p>• Ellena Marie Collins, 21, of 208 Hamil St., was charged with possession with intent to sale and deliver a schedule II controlled substance.</p><p>• Heather Williams Morato, 27, of 1204 S. Salisbury St., Apt. B, was charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver a schedule IV controlled substance and selling a schedule IV controlled substance.</p><p>• James Allen Kirby, 36, of 1955 Jersey Church Road, Lot B, was charged with trafficking opiates by sale, trafficking opiates by possession, two counts of possession with intent to sell and deliver a schedule III controlled substance and two counts of selling a schedule III controlled substance.</p><p>• Jennifer Ann Hayes, 42, of 410 Carolina Ave., was charged with two counts of possession with intent to sell and deliver a schedule IV controlled substance and two counts of selling a schedule IV controlled substance.</p><p>• Karen Lemly Saunders, 46, of 256 Holloway Church Road, was charged with trafficking opiates by sale, trafficking opiates by possession, selling a schedule III controlled substance, possession with intent to sell and deliver a schedule III controlled substance and selling controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school.</p><p>• Kevin Dwayne Hayes, 36, of 312 Rosemary Drive, was charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver a schedule II controlled substance and selling a schedule II controlled substance.</p><p>• Melinda Jean Wilson, 35, of 106 Pond St., was charged with trafficking opiates by sale, trafficking opiates by possession, two counts of possession with intent to sell and deliver a schedule III controlled substance and two counts of selling a schedule III controlled substance.</p><p>• Michael Shawn Billings, 39, of 5527 S. N.C. Highway 150, was charged with two counts of possession with intent to sell and deliver a schedule II controlled substance and two counts of selling a schedule II controlled substance.</p><p>• Payton Lee Bowles, 26, of 200 Dacotah St., was charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver a counterfeit substance.</p><p>• Quentin Bernard Mcintosh, 39, of 301 Pennington Ave., Apt. B, was charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver a schedule II controlled substance and possession with intent to sell and deliver a schedule II controlled substance.</p><p>• Rebecca Starr Wilson, 27, of 103 Hopedale St., was charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver a schedule II controlled substance and selling a schedule II controlled substance.</p><p>• Scotty Wayne Blevins, 40, of 333 Numa Byerly Road, was charged with two counts of possession with intent to sell and deliver a schedule II controlled substance and two counts of selling a schedule II controlled substance.</p><p>• Vernon Wade Bame Jr., 27, of 403 Calvin Sowers Road, was charged with possession of heroin and possession of drug paraphernalia.</p><p>• Zachery Chase Cox, 25, of 5350 E. U.S. Highway 64, was charged with trafficking opiates by sale, trafficking opiates by possession, possession with intent to sell and deliver a schedule III controlled substance and selling a schedule III controlled substance.</p><p>Darrick Ignasiak can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 217, or darrick.ignasiak@the-dispatch.com. Follow Darrick on Twitter: @DispatchDarrick</p>